When PetSmart distribution center came to our town, everyone was excited. It meant new jobs for people. What they weren't telling you is that when you went in and applied, you were not getting a "pet smart" application, but rather a "pro staff" application. A "temp agency." This agency deceived people as well as the company they were hiring for. They hired people, would not give them time to give notices to previous employers and once in, was told they were "pro staff." After a while, Neil who is the head guy from Phoenix Arizona, had a staff meeting and told the employees that after 240 hours worked they would all be made official Pet Smart Employees.
Time goes on, employees have over 400 hours worked, no pet smart. If you asked too many questions, you were let go. Then all of a sudden, 50 new employees start, Pet Smart employees. They are given a weekend shift of 12 hours to total 36 hours a week.Pro Staff employees were not offered these positions. When openings occur within the facility they are told they cannot apply for these positions as they are not Pet Smart employees.
Now these are employees who have been there since August mandated to work 10-12 hour shifts 5 days a week. Rather than make them Pet Smart employees, they hire new people to fill these positions. On December 14th, 10 pro staff employees were let go. The reason? It was Pet Smart decision to let 10 pro staff go. It was nothing they did, they were all good workers, had good work records, it was just a decision made by Neil, Phil and another person.
These employees were devastated. Right before the christmas dinner, right before christmas, and right after they hired 50 pet smart employees. These pro staff employees were told from the beginning and all the way through employment that they would be made Pet Smart employees. They were lied to by the company. Not only that, the pro staff boss, Brian, would show favortism towards employees. He would make the woman do heavy lifting and not give them help when needed. His response was always, "there is no one to help you." He would then go and play ping pong with the other bosses. Men would always have help working two together. Women cutting their arms with boxcutters trying to open boxes, having their arms scarred and no compensation for that. Brian would not speak to any of the employees, only the ones he liked. If you spoke to him, he would not acknowledge you.
I feel the company was sneaky and underhanded in the way they did their hiring practices. People quit long term employment to work there not being able to give notices only to find out they were not "official pet smart employees." The big wig, Neil, had a meeting with all the pro staff employees and told them that they would become pet smart. He told them first they had to have 240 hours, then he told them 480 hours. Now they hire new official pet smart employees and let go the pro staff employees who have been there since August working 10-12 hours a day, 5 days a week. Something needs to be done about this.
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